The pride of Murcia, Negros Occidental, 2-time world champion and WBO jr. flyweight champion Donnie Nietes has been a pillar for Philippine boxing. He was the longest reigning Filipino world champion when he held the WBO minimumweight belt for more than three and a half years, and the only Filipino to defend his crown in Mexico three times against Mexican opponents.
But despite his many accomplishments, Nietes’ has struggled to reach superstardom and global recognition the way his compatriots Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire, Jr. have. Fresh from a dominating performance in the first defense of his current belt against Felipe Salguero, Nietes has his sights on a name that’s been causing a buzz in the lower weights: Roman “El Chocolitito” Gonzalez (32-0-0, 27 KOs). The undefeated WBA jr. flyweight and former minimumweight champion, has been on a massive tear since lacing up his gloves as a pro. Only 25-years-old, Gonzalez’s latest victim is the man Nietes’ took his current belt from, Ramon Garcia Hirales. But against an opponent Nietes struggled with, Gonzalez simply steamrolled his way to a 4th round KO win.
Nietes has been wanting to fight Gonzalez for the past two years since the two were still both minimumweight champs. “I know he’s a very good fighter that’s why I want to challenge myself,” Nietes told this scribe. “We will prepare for him and have a game plan ready when the time comes that I have to fight him,” he added.
